Last week, I shared a simple homemade ice cream recipe and asked for your favorite flavors. I also teased we'd have something more in-depth and here we are. For the full activity, along with variations by age go to the Curious Kitchen Lab in the classroom and select #Ice Cream Magic Ice alone is cold, but ice mixed with salt becomes even colder. That extra drop in temperature is enough to turn a sweet liquid into creamy homemade ice cream. Gather Your Gear: Ice Cream Mixture - 120 mL (½ cup) milk, half-and-half, or a combination - 15 mL (1 tablespoon) sugar - 1.25 mL (¼ teaspoon) vanilla extract Freezing Mixture - About 700 g (3 cups) ice - 75 g (⅓ cup) table salt or coarse salt Supplies - 1 small zip-top bag - 1 large zip-top bag - Kitchen towel or oven mitts - Measuring cups and spoons - Bowls and spoons - My Science Notebook (optional) Optional toppings - Cooled caramel from From Sugar to Caramel - Sugar crystals from Crystal Makers, if prepared using food-safe materials Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly before handling food. Check both bags carefully for holes before beginning. Steps 1. Combine the milk, sugar, and vanilla in the small zip-top bag. Press out excess air and seal tightly. 2. Fill the large zip-top bag with the ice and sprinkle the salt evenly over it. 3. Place the sealed small bag inside the large bag and seal the large bag tightly. 4. Wrap the bag in a towel or use oven mitts. The outside will become very cold. 5. Shake, roll, and gently turn the bag for 5 to 10 minutes. 6. Check the ice cream. Continue shaking until it becomes thick and creamy. 7. Remove the small bag and wipe away any salty water before opening it. 8. Scoop the ice cream into bowls. Add optional toppings if desired. 9. Watch how your ice cream changes as it begins to warm.

Have you ever had one of those weeks when you just totally lost track of what day it is? That’s me right now and I realized I had completely missed posting yesterday’s build activity so today, you get two. Pop over to the classroom tab, select build lab and then look for the second group, “Stands, Stacks, and Wobbles” you’ll find all 6 activities posted. If you want to do them in order #Balance Beasts comes first then #Strong Shapes both have full supply lists, steps, a twist, and suggestions for adapting for 3-6 year olds, 7-12 year olds, and teens. Now, if you don’t have a child handy, what’s stopping you from building? Let’s share those builds.

@Lyndal P I was thinking about you again with this one. This is one of my favorite low cost/no cost building activities. Who else is going to try this? I'd love to see the results! And, if you would like a build twist or ideas to adjust the activity by the ages of the kids in your life, visit the Classroom - Build Lab or go direct to today's activity #Stack Attack A sponge, a box, and a cardboard tube do not stack the same way. Mix materials with different shapes, weights, and textures to discover which arrangements can rise high and stay standing. Gather Your Gear Choose safe, unbreakable objects from at least three groups: - Small boxes or empty food containers - Plastic cups, bowls, or lids - Blocks - Cardboard tubes - Sponges - Folded washcloths or fabric scraps - Index cards or pieces of cardboard - Lightweight books or notebooks - Ruler or measuring tape - Paper and pencil, or a camera Choose objects that can fall without causing injury or damage. Build on the floor or a low, sturdy surface. Do not use glass, sharp objects, or heavy items. Steps 1. Choose your stacking materials. Collect 8–12 objects with different sizes, shapes, weights, and textures. 2. Investigate the objects. Pick up and examine each one. Look for: - Flat or curved surfaces - Wide or narrow sides - Smooth or grippy textures - Firm or soft materials - Heavy or lightweight objects - Select your first stack. Choose at least six objects, including three different kinds of materials. - Plan the order. Arrange the objects beside one another from bottom to top. Predict which pieces will support the stack and which might make it unstable. - Build your first stack. Add one object at a time without using tape or fasteners. Pause after each piece to notice whether the stack leans, slides, compresses, or twists. - Take your hands away. The stack must remain standing independently for at least five seconds. Measure its height or count how many objects it holds. - Study what happened. Consider:

Today's build is all about the base and testing hypothesis. Simple everyday materials are used and you can get the twist and age variation suggestions by heading to the Build Lab in the Classroom area. Want to see the full task in one view go to #The Base Race A strong structure begins at the bottom. Test different bases to discover how width, shape, and weight can help the same tower stand firm or send it wobbling. Gather Your Gear: Choose from materials you already have: - Cardboard or paper plates - Index cards or sturdy paper - Plastic cups - Blocks or small boxes - Painter’s tape or masking tape - Coins, washers, or other small weights - Ruler or measuring tape - A small fan or piece of cardboard for testing You do not need every item. You will need enough materials to make several different bases and one small tower. Steps: 1. Build one test tower. Make a simple tower that can be lifted and moved without changing its design. Keep it small enough to test several times. 2. Create three different bases. Try changing one base feature at a time: - Narrow or wide - Triangle or square - Lightweight or weighted - Flat or folded - Make your predictions. Arrange the bases from most stable to least stable. Explain why you chose that order. - Place the tower on the first base. Center it as carefully as possible. - Test the tower. Choose one gentle test and use it consistently: - Tap the table lightly three times. - Fan the tower three times with a piece of cardboard. - Place a small fan the same distance from each base. - Slowly tilt a sturdy board or tray beneath it with adult help. - Repeat the test with every base. Keep the tower and testing method the same so the base is the main feature that changes. - Compare the results. Consider: - Which base kept the tower standing? - Which base allowed the most movement? - Did the tower slide, sway, lean, or tip? - What did the most successful bases have in common?

We've spent time in the kitchen, focused on world building, and now, it's time to physically build. I hope you enjoy this lab series as much as I enjoyed putting it together. How about a show of hands (drop your gif or emoji below), do you like building or do you have a young builder, future engineer, or construction worker in your family? Let's see if we can pass the Wobble Test. For an extra twist and activity variations by age, visit the Build Lab by clicking Classrooms at the top of the screen. #Wobble Watchers provides more detailed instructions. I've attached the Build Journal and the Activity card for quick reference. Some structures stand firm while others lean, jiggle, or tumble with the slightest bump. Become wobble detectives and investigate what makes a structure stable. Gather Your Gear: Choose several building materials you already have: - Plastic cups - Blocks - Small boxes - Cardboard tubes - Index cards or scrap cardboard - Craft sticks - Painter’s tape or masking tape - A small fan or piece of cardboard for testing You do not need every item. Choose enough materials to build three small structures. Steps: 1️⃣ Build three structures. Use the same collection of materials to make: - One you think will stand firmly - One that leans - One that wobbles 2️⃣ Look for clues. Examine each structure without touching it. Consider: - How wide is its base? - Where are the heaviest pieces? - Are the pieces centered or uneven? - Is it tall compared with its base? - Are any parts loose or poorly connected? 3️⃣ Make your predictions. Arrange the structures from most stable to least stable. Explain what you think will happen during the test. - Test the structures. Choose one gentle test and use it consistently: - Tap the table lightly three times. - Fan each structure with a piece of cardboard. - Place a small fan the same distance from each structure. - Watch closely. Notice which parts move first. Does the structure sway from the top, slide at the bottom, bend in the middle, or tip to one side?